You know, when I first started content writing, I used to think:
“Just open Google Docs, start typing, and that’s it.”
But very soon, I realised content writing is not just about typing words. It’s about researching, structuring, optimizing, editing, checking, and sometimes even promoting. And for all these, you need the right tools.
Today, I’ll share with you some of the most popular tools in the content writing domain. tools I personally use (or have tried), tools many professionals swear by, and tools that can honestly make your life much easier if you write content regularly.
Let’s get started.
1. Google Docs – The Basic Backbone
I guess most of us start here.
Google Docs is simple, free, and cloud-based. You can write from anywhere, share drafts easily, collaborate with clients or editors, and even access your older versions anytime.
Why I love it:
- Auto-saving (no panic when power cuts happen)
- Easy sharing via link
- Real-time collaboration with clients or teammates
It’s not fancy, but honestly, 70% of my writing happens here.
2. Grammarly – Your Personal Editor
No matter how good you are in English, mistakes happen. That’s where Grammarly comes in.
It checks grammar, spelling, sentence clarity, and even suggests better word choices.
Free version: Checks basic grammar and spelling.
Premium version: Checks tone, clarity, engagement, and more.
Why I use it:
- Quick grammar fixes
- Tone suggestions (very useful for writing blogs, emails, or formal content)
- Helps avoid silly mistakes when you’re writing for hours
3. Hemingway App – Write Like You Speak
Have you ever written a sentence and thought:
“Wait, is this too complicated?”
Hemingway App tells you exactly that.
It checks your writing for:
- Readability score
- Passive voice
- Complex sentences
- Overused adverbs
Why it’s useful:
Especially if you want your blogs to sound simple, easy, and natural like how we’re talking right now.
4. SurferSEO – For SEO-Friendly Content
Now, content writing and SEO go hand in hand.
SurferSEO is one of those tools that help you balance both.
You simply enter your keyword, and Surfer gives you:
- Ideal word count
- Keyword suggestions
- Heading structure
- NLP terms (semantic keywords)
- Competitor analysis
Why I like it:
It gives you a clear content outline based on what’s ranking.
Instead of guessing, you write with confidence that your article is search-engine friendly.
5. Ahrefs – Deep Keyword & Competitor Research
Ahrefs is like a goldmine for SEO-focused content writers.
It helps you find:
- Keyword difficulty
- Content gaps
- What your competitors are ranking for
- Backlink data (if you’re into link building)
Why it’s powerful:
When you’re writing for blogs, you want topics that people are searching for. Ahrefs helps you find those topics.
Tip: Ahrefs can be expensive for beginners. You can try tools like Ubersuggest or even free versions of SEMrush if you’re just starting out.
6. Jasper AI (or Any AI Writing Assistant)
AI writing tools are becoming quite popular. Jasper AI (formerly Jarvis) is one of the big names.
What it does:
- Helps generate content drafts
- Suggests headlines, meta descriptions, intros
- Paraphrases content
My honest take:
AI tools can help with rough drafts, outlines, or when you’re stuck. But always review and personalize the output. Google and readers both prefer original human touch.
7. Canva – For Visual Content
Sometimes content writing isn’t just about writing.
You might need featured images, infographics, or social media graphics to support your content.
Canva helps with:
- Blog banners
- Quote graphics
- Infographics
- Social media visuals
Why I use it:
It’s drag-and-drop easy. Even if you’re not a designer, Canva makes you feel like one.
8. Notion – Organize Your Writing Projects
Notion has become quite popular among content writers, especially if you handle multiple clients or projects.
Use Notion for:
- Content calendars
- Research notes
- To-do lists
- Tracking article progress
Why it’s helpful:
Keeps you organized, especially if you write for multiple websites, agencies, or clients.
9. Trello – Manage Client Projects
Trello works beautifully for:
- Tracking client assignments
- Organizing blog topics
- Visualizing deadlines with boards and cards
Why I recommend it:
It’s simple, visual, and very effective for managing content pipelines.
10. Answer The Public – Content Ideas Goldmine
Sometimes the hardest part is:
“What should I write about?”
Answer The Public gives you:
- Real questions people are searching
- Topic clusters
- Keyword ideas based on search behavior
Why I love it:
It helps you create content people are actually looking for, not just what you think they need.
11. Google Trends – Know What’s Trending
Google Trends shows you:
- Trending topics
- Seasonal interest
- Geographic interest in keywords
Tip:
Great for news blogs, seasonal articles, or staying relevant in your niche.
12. Screaming Frog – For Technical Content Audits
If you write website content, sometimes you need to check:
- Broken links
- Duplicate titles
- Missing meta descriptions
Screaming Frog helps with quick site audits which you can then report or fix.
Note:
This is a little advanced, but very useful if you do SEO content for websites.
13. Evernote – Quick Notes Anytime
Content ideas strike anytime while you’re travelling, reading, or even taking a walk.
Evernote helps you:
- Jot quick notes
- Save interesting articles
- Clip webpages for research
Why I recommend it:
Never lose your sudden burst of ideas again.
14. Quillbot – Paraphrasing Made Easy
Sometimes you need to rephrase sentences to avoid repetition or improve clarity.
Quillbot helps you:
- Paraphrase text
- Summarize long paragraphs
- Improve fluency
Tip:
Don’t rely blindly. Always review and make sure it sounds natural.
15. Copyscape – Check for Plagiarism
Original content matters. Whether you’re writing blogs, website content, or ebooks, plagiarism can hurt your credibility.
Copyscape helps you:
- Ensure your content is 100% unique
- Avoid accidental duplication
My practice:
I always run my articles through Copyscape before delivering them to clients.
16. Frase.io – Content Briefs + AI Research
Frase is like having a research assistant. Instead of spending hours Googling, it gives you ready-made content briefs and outlines.
Why it’s useful:
- Helps you structure articles faster
- Shows competitor analysis and keywords
- Saves tons of research time
I often use it when I need to prepare content outlines quickly for SEO blogs.
17. ClearScope – Smart Content Optimization
If SurferSEO is your buddy, Clearscope is like its smarter cousin. It goes deep into semantic keyword research and helps you write content that’s not only keyword-rich but also contextually complete.
Why I like it:
- Advanced keyword recommendations
- Better semantic coverage
- Improves content relevance for Google
Perfect for writers aiming at high-authority long-form content.
18. ProWritingAid – Advanced Writing Assistant
Think of this as Grammarly’s elder sibling. While Grammarly focuses on grammar and clarity, ProWritingAid looks at style, tone, readability, and consistency.
Why it’s worth a try:
- Checks writing style (academic, casual, business, etc.)
- Gives in-depth reports on readability
- Great for writers who want to improve overall craft
If you’re writing ebooks or professional reports, this tool is gold.
19. BuzzSumo – Find Trending Content Ideas
When you’re stuck on what to write, BuzzSumo can be your lifesaver. It shows you the most shared and trending content in your niche.
Why I recommend it:
- Spot trending blog topics
- Analyze competitors’ best-performing content
- Helps you understand what actually goes viral
It’s like AnswerThePublic but with social sharing data.
20. Google Search Console – Track Your Content Performance
Okay, so you’ve written your blog. But how do you know if it’s performing? That’s where Google Search Console comes in.
Why it’s important:
- Shows which keywords you’re ranking for
- Tracks impressions and clicks
- Helps optimize existing content for better results
I always check Search Console to update old blogs and get them ranking higher.
21. Yoast SEO – For WordPress Writers
If you’re writing directly on WordPress like me, Yoast SEO is a must-have plugin for every wordpress user.
Why it’s useful:
- On-page SEO suggestions
- Easy meta title & description setup
- Readability checks
It acts like your SEO checklist before hitting publish.
22. Ubersuggest – Beginner-Friendly SEO Tool
If Ahrefs feels too expensive, Ubersuggest is your budget-friendly alternative.
Why I like it:
- Affordable keyword research
- Competitor analysis
- Daily SEO tracking
Good for freelancers or writers just starting with SEO.
23. SEMrush Writing Assistant – SEO Inside Docs/WordPress
This one is quite underrated. SEMrush Writing Assistant integrates directly with Google Docs and WordPress.
Why it helps:
- Real-time SEO scoring
- Keyword suggestions
- Tone of voice improvement
It’s like having an SEO expert whispering tips while you write.
24. Loom – Explain Ideas with Videos
Sometimes, explaining content strategy or edits over email takes forever. Loom makes it easier.
Why I use it:
- Record quick video walkthroughs
- Great for client communication
- Saves hours of back-and-forth messages
Especially handy if you also manage content teams.
25. Otter.ai – Transcribe Interviews & Meetings
If you interview clients, industry experts, or work on podcasts, Otter.ai is amazing.
Why I recommend it:
- Automatic transcription
- Saves time from manual note-taking
- Easy to extract quotes for articles
I’ve used it for creating content from client calls—it works like magic.
26. Miro – Visual Brainstorming
Not every idea comes linearly. Sometimes you need a visual map to organize thoughts. That’s where Miro helps.
Why it’s cool:
- Drag-and-drop idea boards
- Great for team brainstorming
- Helps structure long-form content visually
27. MindMeister – Mind Mapping for Writers
Similar to Miro but more focused on mind mapping.
Why writers love it:
- Helps break down big topics
- Perfect for ebook outlines
- Makes complex articles easier to structure
28. Google Keep – Capture Quick Ideas
Google Keep is a lighter version of Evernote, but super handy for small notes.
Why I use it:
- Quick notes on mobile
- Syncs with Google account
- Simple and distraction-free
Perfect for jotting down sudden blog title ideas.
29. Plagiarism Detector (Small SEO Tools) – Free Option
If you don’t want to invest in Copyscape, Small SEO Tools offers a free plagiarism checker.
Why it’s helpful:
- Quick duplicate checks
- Good for freelancers on a budget
- Easy to use
Though, I’d still recommend Copyscape for professional work.
30. Descript – Repurpose Audio/Video into Blogs
Descript is a dream tool if you want to repurpose content.
Why it’s awesome:
- Transcribes podcasts and videos
- Lets you edit audio like text
- Easy repurposing into blog posts
Great if you want to scale content across formats.
Why These Tools Matter?
When I started Writing, I used barely 3 tools: Google Docs, Grammarly, and Canva.
But as my work grew writing for clients, optimizing for SEO, managing multiple projects I slowly added more tools to my workflow.
Each tool solved a small problem:
- Grammarly fixed my silly mistakes.
- SurferSEO made my articles SEO-friendly.
- Canva gave me beautiful graphics.
- Notion and Trello helped me manage deadlines.
Today, these tools save me hours every week.
But one advice I always give:
Don’t overwhelm yourself by using 10 tools at once.
Start small.
Pick 3-4 tools that solve your biggest current problem.
As you grow, you’ll naturally feel the need to add more.
Quick Summary Table
| Task | Tool Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Writing | Google Docs, Notion, ProWritingAid |
| Grammar | Grammarly, Hemingway App |
| SEO Optimization | SurferSEO, Ahrefs, ClearScope, Ubersuggest, SEMrush Writing Assistant, Yoast SEO |
| Visuals | Canva |
| Project Management | Trello, Notion |
| Research | Answer The Public, Google Trends, BuzzSumo, Frase.io |
| Plagiarism Check | Copyscape, Plagiarism Detector (Small SEO Tools) |
| Paraphrasing | Quillbot |
| Quick Notes | Evernote, Google Keep |
| Technical Audits | Screaming Frog |
| AI Assistance | Jasper AI |
| Content Briefs/Outlines | Frase.io, Clearscope |
| Content Performance | Google Search Console |
| Mind Mapping | Miro, MindMeister |
| Transcription | Otter.ai, Descript |
| Client Communication | Loom |
Conclusion
You know, content writing today is not just about writing. It’s a mix of creativity, SEO, research, management, and sometimes even graphics. Thankfully, with so many amazing tools available, you don’t need to do everything manually.
I’ve personally seen my productivity double by using these tools smartly. That’s why exploring some of the popular tools in content writing domain can really make a difference.
So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced content writer, these tools can genuinely help you deliver better content, faster.

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